Grading, Exams, and Homework
The course grade will be divided between in-class exams (40%), homework (50%),
and in-class quizzes (10%) as outlined below.
- There will be two in-class exams that will make up 2x20% or 40% of your grade.
They will be given roughly at mid-term and at the end of the term. There
will be no final exam.
- Homework sets will be assigned, roughly once every 2 weeks, and you will
have 1 or 2 weeks before handing them in. They will make up 50% of your
grade. Your lowest homework score will be dropped.
- In-class quizzes will make up 10% of your grade. Your lowest quiz score
will be dropped.
- Your final numerical grades will be converted to letter grades approximately
as given below. When curving the grades, the conversion between letter and
numerical grade may be adjusted, but it will not be more difficult than the
scheme below.
 |
Letter
Grade
|
|
Numerical
Grade
|
|
A
|
|
85 % or higher
|
|
B
|
|
84 - 75 %
|
|
C
|
|
74 - 60 %
|
|
D
|
|
59 - 45 %
|
|
F
|
|
44 % and below
|
Class Discipline
You are encouraged to study and discuss homework assignments with other students,
as well as to get help from the TAs and instructor.
However, you must write up your own homework, exams, and quizzes.
If you copy another homework or let someone copy yours, both of you will
receive zero credit. The same rule applies to exams, and quizzes.
Please make sure that you include the method you used to get the answer
in your homework, exams, and quizzes. Numerical answers without an
explanation of the method used will get no credit.
Cheating on exams will be severely punished. The student caught cheating
will be assigned at least an F for that exam, and potentially an F for the course.
If deemed appropriate, a report will be filed to the Dean of Students.
Late homework will not be accepted for grading unless you have requested
an extension prior to the due date, and this request has been granted.
In such a case, late homeworks may be given only half credit.
No homework will be accepted after we have discussed the answers in class
and handed back the corrected homeworks.
All quizzes and exams will be done without access to notes, books,and
calculators.
You are strongly encouraged to attend all class lectures for the reasons
described under "Course Material".
Telescope and Observing
You may be interested to visit our Student Observatory
on the roof of Painter Hall. This houses a 9 inch refracting telescope.
The general student night is Fridays at 8:00 - 10:00 PM until Oct 30th
and then 7:00 - 9:00, clear nights only. This is a simple telescope to use and
students (you!) can be checked out to observe with it. Please see me for further
information. You may also consult the Painter Hall Telescope Handbook,
which explains the
check-out procedure and the use of the telescope.
You can also consult the Educational Services Office, RLM 13.122, 471-1307.
|
